A ‘private property’ sign placed on the open ground outside the Turbhe police station has confused many who come there to lodge a complaint.
The main entrance to the police station has been shut, outside vehicles are not allowed on the ground and a private security guard has been posted
there.

But what they do not know is that the ground, which was assumed to be part of the police station, had been sold by the MIDC to a private developer. Sources claim the developer is the brother of a senior minister.

“The land in front of the police station did not belong to us. It was recently sold and the person who purchased it has claimed it. There is nothing wrong with it. We have made a separate entrance for the police station,” said Ahmad Javed, Navi Mumbai commissioner of police.

However, the steps leading to the newly opened side gate to the police station are high and are neither disabled-friendly nor senior citizen-friendly.

“Since the land in front has been sold we are forced to use the side gate to enter the police station. This has been causing problems because vehicles have to be parked outside. Moreover, the disabled and elderly find it difficult to climb the stairs,” said an official at the Turbhe police station on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to the media.

Javed revealed that the Turbhe police station, which has the reputations of getting flooded every monsoon, would soon be renovated.

“We have got the permission from the state government to renovate the place. The police station might be shifted to a place where it will not get flooded during the rains. We are here for only a few months.”